NB: as of 23 September 2008, all new artSMart articles are being published on the site news.artsmart.co.za.

TAPPING HEARTS
(article first published : 2006-04-3)

The Abangani Theatre Group from Johannesburg presents Tapping Hearts, a cutting-edge theatre piece about South African women. Written and directed by award winning Gauteng-based director Julien Seleke Mokoto, the show runs for a one-week season in the Playhouse Loft.

Tapping Hearts gives South African women a free role to express themselves: women who believe that one-day South Africa will be run by women. These women present an uncomfortable “threat” to men who do not want to accept their responsibilities, men who cannot maintain their children but appear to have no problem in spending lots of money entertaining other women. These women say: “we can do things on our own!”

The five women cast, who discuss realities such as the fact that some men do not even earn as much as women nowadays, want to be called "AmaTriple S!" (Single, Successful and Self- Sufficient). They believe the power of women is becoming more and more powerful in South African society. “You strike a woman you strike a rock!” Wathinta Abafazi wathinta imbhokodo.

Seleke Mokoto’s production, Tapping Hearts played to full capacity at the National Festival in Grahamstown last year. Currently on a national tour, it was loved by audiences in Limpompo, Mpumalanga Province and Bloemfontein. Durban audiences will see this powerful production for the second time after it appeared at E-MAC in Kwa Mashu earlier this year.

Powerful and well-directed, Tapping Hearts incorporates drama, tap dance and music with choreography by Smson Mabuza. “Tap Dance is popular with male dancers more than women. In this production, tap dance is a symbol that women can now do what any man can do,” says Julien Seleke Mokoto. The cast includes five powerful Johannesburg-based actresses Sibongile Nkosi, Lindiwe Ndlovu, Priscilla Mphangoa, Ncebakazi Thintsila and Molobane Mbatha.

Julien Seleke Mokoto has directed several productions enjoyed by Durban audiences such as Shattered Dreams, Unfaithful Woman and Blind Man!

The 60-minute Tapping Hearts runs in the Playhouse Loft from April 19 to 23 at 19h00. Tickets R40 booked through Computicket. There is an age restriction of 14 as the material is of an adult nature!